Automatic lubricator control



N. T. AND F. E. CLINE.

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-'25, 1920.

1,436,432. PatentedNov. 21, 1922.

. INVENTOR. Muse/y 7. CL/HE.

lye/.5 6. Cur/ By F24 A TTORNE Y5 Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

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NELSON T. CLINE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AND FRANCIS E. CLINE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC LUBBICATOR. CONTROL.

Application filed September 25 1920. Serial 110,412,813.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NELSON T. CLINE and FRANCIS E. CLINE, respectively, citizens of the United States, and residents of Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, respectively,counties of Allegheny and Marion, respectively, and States of Pennsylvania and Indiana, respectively, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Lubricator Control and we 0 do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to lubricator de vices such as are commonly associated with fluid compressors and similar power units,

including steam driven engines.

The chief object of this invention is to provide in a lubricating system of the character defined Valve means which are automatically controlled such that the valve regulates the amount of lubricant supplied to the surface to be lubricated in proportion to the work to be done by the power unit and the amount of lubricant required thereby.

The chief feature of the invention consists in associating with the mechanical valve suitable means which are proportionally actuated by the'working or workable fluid.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates the invention when applied to a multi-stage air compressor lubricated by the force feed type of system, the control valve embodying the invention being associated with the foregoing. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the invention and illustrates the same when associated with asight feed valve. Fig. 3

is a sectional view taken in planes transverse to the plane of Fig. 2, several of the essen- 45 tial parts lying in different planes, but being sectioned to show their construction'more clearly, other parts being shown in elevation for the same purpose.

In the drawings the invention is illustrated as applied to a fluid compressor of the multi-stage type wherein 10 indicates the low pressure air cylinder, 11 the high pressure cylinder, and 12 and 13 the prime movers for the multi-stage air compressor illustrated.

Associated with the multi-stage air compressor is a force feed lubricating device 1 1 which is actuated by suitable means not shown, and which forms no part of this invention. 15 indicates thevalve means embodying the features of the invention and said valvemeans is connected with the force feed lubricating device 1 1 by means of the conduit 16. Similarly, said valve means 15 is connected to the low and high pressure cylinders 10 and 11 respectively by means of the conduits 17 and 18 respectively. All of the foregoing is old in the art and forms no part of the invention. Associated with the valve means 15 is a conduit'19 which preferably, but not necessarily, is connected to the air reservoir or other source of fluid pressure associated with the multi-stage air compressor illustrated. I

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate in detail the construction of the novel valve means, and said figures illustrate the same appliedto a sight feed valve. In Fig. 2, 15 illustrates a receptacle, reservoir or chamber forming a body portion enclosing the valve mechanism. As shown in said figures, the reservoir 15 is provided with a cap'or cover portion 20 secured to said body portion by means of the bolts 21 and forms a leak-proof joint therebetween by means of suitable packing 22. Upon opposite sides of the reservoir 15, see Fig. 3, there is formed a projecting nipple or plug 23 which communicates with the interior of the reservoir or chamber by means of the channel 24. The exterior of said projection or plug 23 is threaded at 25 and is adapted to receive a cap 26 or a union 27. In the first instance, the cap 26 closes said conduit or channel 24, and in the other instance, the union member 27 secures the conduit 16 to said projection by means of the pipe fitting 28, said pipe fitting is preferably tapered at be seatable at 30 upon the beveled or tapered seat formed upon the projection 23, so that between said parts 23 and 28 there will be a leak-proof oint. The dual means hereinbefore described permits the reservoir or chamber to be connected to the force feed lubricator 141; in the most advantageous manner, since said outlets are interchangeable, and if necessary or desired, both outlets may be connected to the force feedlu'bricating device let. i

The invention is herein illustrated as applied to a dual control system, but it will be noted that the invention may be applied to a single control "or a plural Control system without departing from the broader features of the invention. Since the means associated with each of the controls is substantially similar, a description of one will suflice for an understanding of them all. The cham ber 15 is provided with an opening 31 which is preferably threaded to receive a combination valve outlet and nozzle member 32, said nozzle being provided with a channel 33, which preferably is enlarged to form a tapered valve seat at 34 communicating with the chamber 15. Positioned within the chamber 15 is a suitable valve member 35 which is complementarily formed so as to be associated with the valve seat 34 and controls the flow of lubricant from the reservoir 15 into the conduit 18, as shown. The means controlling the operation of the Valve 35 will be hereinafter described in detail, since the same forms the chief and main feature of the invention.

Lubricant passing through the channel 33 passes through an auxiliary chamber 36 before passing into the conduit 18, and ass0- ciatedwith the chamber 36 is the usual sight feed construction, which is as follows: EX- tending into the chamber 36 is suitable flange means 37 ,against'which abuts a suitable transparent closure member 38, which member is preferably of glass. Associated with the glass closure member 38 is a tapered packing member 39 which is adapted to engage the tapered portion 40 of the glass closure member, and associated with said packing member is a metal washer 41. To secure the glass closure member, yielding packing member and metal washer member in as sembled relation to form a leak-proof joint,

there is provided a hollow nut 42 externally threaded at 43 and secured to the threaded portion 44 of the chamber forming body 36. Preferably registering with the opening 31 and the nozzle 32 is an opening 45 in the chamber 36, which opening communicates with the conduit 18 by means of a union 46. This construction with the adjacent tapered faces 47 provides a leak-proof joint. This construction it will be noted, see Fig. 3, permits a socket wrench to be inserted into the opening 45 and chamber 36 to engage the nut portion 48 of the nozzle 32 to screw and secure said nozzle in the threaded opening'31. I

Associated with each valve 35 is a stem portion 50, and pivotally supporting the same is an arcuate pressure expansible coil or tube 51, which coil or tube is closed at one end by means of the plug member 52. Said plug member supports the free end of the valve stem 50 by means of the pivot pin 53. v The pressure expansible arcuate tube '51 communicates with a header member 54,

which header-member is rigidly secured to the receptacle or reservoir wall by suitable means, such as the screws 55. In the present invention, see Fig. 3, two expansible tubes 51 are illustrated and the header member 54 is adapted to simultaneously communicate with both of said tubes, said header member comprises an elongated chamber 56, and preferably integral therewith there is provided a supply conduit 57. At the junction of the supply conduit 57 with the header 54 there is provided a tapered face 53, which tapered face is adapted to bear upon a complementarily formed tapered seat 59 associated with the opening 60 formed in the reservoir wall 15. From the foregoing and from Fig. 3 it will be understood that the header, to which has been secured the several pressure expansible tubes 51 supporting the valves 35, is inserted through the receptacle when the cover cap 2-0 has been removed therefrom and the conduit or stem portion 57 is inserted through the opening 60 in said reservoir. The washer 61 and nut 62 suitably and rigidly secure said reservoir and header together and form a leak-proof joint between the adjacent faces thereof. Associated with the conduit 57 and communicating therewith is the conduit 19 which as heretofore stated is adapted to be connected to the air reservoir or other source of fluid pressure, said conduits 19 and 57 being provided with complementarily formed tapered surfaces 63 which are secured together by the union member 64 having a threaded engagement with the several parts.

From the foregoing it will be understood that as the pressure in the air reservoir or other source of supply of fluid pressure increases, the same is transmitted through the conduits 19 and 57 to the header chamber 56 and through said chamber to the several arcuate expansible actuating tubes 51 for expanding said tubes. These tubes when subjected to pressure, expand proportional to the pressure in said header and tube, which expansion carries with it the valve 35 to unseat the same from theseat 34, thereby permitting the lubricant in the reservoir 15 to escape into the chamber 36 and conduit communicating therewith through the channel 33. As described and as illustrated in Fig. 3,'the escaping lubricant 75 is visible through the transparent closure member 38 of the chamber 36.

In order to limit the unseating movement of the valve 35, means is provided as follows: Said means comprises a threaded bolt member 65, which bolt member has a thread ed engagement with the cover cap 20 through the opening 66. Projecting upwardly from the cover cap member and preferably integral therewith and registering with the opening 66 is an annular flange 67 exteriorly threaded, said flange 67 is adapted to receive a threaded cap 68, which cap is preferably formed with a nut-like head, so that the same may be removed from said annular projection 67. It will be noted that the cap 68 protects the stop and limit bolt 65 from casual injury and also from tampering, since the removal of said cap 68 is necessary before access can be had to the adjustable bolt 65. It will be understood that the unseating movement of the valve 35 is limited by the end of the stem 50 contacting the end of the bolt 65.

The invention claimed is:

1. A lubricating system for a power unit, including a lubricant-containing reservoir, a plurality of means connecting said reservoir with said power unit, a plurality of valve means in said communication for controlling the supply of lubricant thereto, a plurality of pressure expansible means for automatically actuating said plurality! of valve means, and a single means connecting said plurality of pressure actuated means to said power unit for simultaneous and automatic actuation of said eXpa-nsible means to control said valve.

In a forced feed lubricating system for compressors and the like, including means for supplying lubricant to said compressors under pressure, a reservoir between said forced teed supplying means and said compressor, conduit means connecting said reservoir with said compressor, valve means in said conduit, means controlling the flow of lubricant through the same, conduit means connecting said lubricant supplying means and said reservoir, and a plurality of inlets, each adapted to receive and communicate with said last mentioned conduit connecting means.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto atfixed our signatures.

NELSON T. CLINIC. FRANCIS E. GLINE. 

